Ageing is an inevitable process of life. The ageing global population is a by-product of the demographic transition in which both mortality and fertility rate decline. A sudden spurt in the population of the elderly in a country is bound to pose multiple challenges before society. Ageing has gone beyond the realm of welfare concern, and needs to be viewed as a developmental challenge. There is an 8.2% of elderly (those aged above 60 years) male and 9.0% of elderly female population in India (Census of India, 2011). Overall, the elderly percentage is 8.6% among the population as compared to the Census 2001, which was 7.4%. India is, therefore, experiencing a demographic transition, which will have an impact on the individual, family, community, society at large and the nation.
The National Institute of Social Defence has been actively involved in imparting training in the field of social defence, including care of older persons, for over a decade. The Senior Citizens Division of the Institute runs a series of programmes/certificate courses, which aim to:
• Develop a cadre of professionals for the care and welfare of older persons
• To provide a comprehensive and scientific knowledge base on various aspects relating to geriatric care
• Generate skilled manpower focused on intervention in the family and community settings for the welfare of older persons
• Orient the students on techniques/interventions for managing the care of the elderly with focus on programme development and management
• Identify and promote support systems and networking for care of the older persons
• Facilitate convergence of services of government/non-government sectors, both locally and at the national level
• The institute conducts the courses by itself and in collaboration with the Regional Resource Training Centres (RRTCs) and other reputed organizations. There are presently eight RRTCs in the field of Old Age Care, designated by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Click here for the list of 8 RRTCs.